Introduction
Some words hurt more than others. In Mirabel, saying the word “expropriation” is like pressing on an old scar that’s still tender. Do you know the story? In 1969, the federal government brutally seized 97,000 acres of land to build an airport that would never live up to its promises. A collective wound.
For Christian Couvrette, this isn’t ancient history. He was 4 years old when his family was among the 1,700 households expropriated. Now in his sixties, he has returned to this land to run a dairy farm in Sainte-Scholastique. But now the past is catching up with him: his farm lies right in the study area for the new high-speed train (TGV) intended to connect Quebec City to Toronto. “We don’t want to go through that again,” he says, visibly moved. And he’s not the only one worried.
A route that’s still unclear, very real concerns
In practical terms, what are we talking about? The project aims to connect Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Laval, Montreal, and Toronto. For now, Alto—the public developer—has identified a “corridor” about ten kilometers wide for its consultations. Rest assured, the final rail line will be only 40 to 60 meters wide, but uncertainty looms: who will be spared? Who will see their fields cut in half?
In Mirabel, the sense of waste is persistent. People remember the long battle for the return of the land, which began as recently as 1985, for plots acquired “for nothing.” Today, Bloc Québécois MP Jean-Denis Garon is outraged: the route risks passing through the properties of people who are already traumatized, and so far, no on-site consultations have taken place.
Mayor Roxane Therrien is also still furious. She laments the lack of information sessions in her town, even though consultations began in January. On the part of Alto, Philippe Archambault, vice president of communications, is trying to calm things down: additional dates will be added, likely in February. “We’ve heard Mirabel’s request loud and clear,” he promises.
Bill C-15: A Forceful Push or Modernization?
Beyond the route itself, it’s the method that’s causing concern. The minority government is trying to push through Bill C-15, a tome of over 600 pages. Its goal? To expedite projects deemed to be in the “national interest.” But to local elected officials, this looks a lot like a blank check.
Jean-Denis Garon and Roxane Therrien fear that this law will allow expropriation notices to be sent by simple email, with no possibility of appeal after 30 days, and, above all, without mandatory public hearings. “They want to retain control for two years and unilaterally set the price of the land,” the MP warns. The mayor warns: if the rules change, “we’ll show our teeth.”
Ottawa is trying to reassure everyone: “We’ll negotiate.”
In response to the outcry, Ottawa has spoken through Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon. His argument? Bill C-15 is directly modeled after what is already being done in Quebec for the REM and in Ontario. “Of course we’ll negotiate on a case-by-case basis with the landowners,” he assured the House.
Transport Canada, through its spokesperson Hicham Ayoun, clarifies that the right to object is not being eliminated, but rather modified. The 30-day period for filing a written objection remains in place, and the cases will be reviewed. This marks the end of systematic public hearings, deemed too slow for large-scale modern construction projects, but the department promises “respect and transparency.”
What’s next? Philippe Archambault of Alto is adamant: nothing is set in stone. The year 2026 will be used to refine the route through a second round of consultations. Land acquisitions would not begin until 2027, and eminent domain will remain a “last resort.” The goal is to follow existing infrastructure as closely as possible to minimize disruption.
Conclusion
For Mirabel residents, a new period of waiting is beginning. Between promises of amicable negotiations and the specter of fast-track legislation, trust has yet to be built. One thing is certain: four stops are planned in Quebec (Laval, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Quebec City), but the price to be paid for farmland remains the big unknown in the equation.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca
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TGV in Mirabel: Why the Ghost of 1969 Is Resurfacing
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